Coaster for bicycles



(No Model.)

B. H. DIVINE. COASTER FOR BI'GYGLES.

Patented Maj '17, 18-98.

IJNrrED STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

' BRADFORD H. DIVINE, OF UTIOA, NEW YORK.

COASTER FOR BICYCLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 604,168, dated May 17,1898.

Application filed July 26, 1897.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BRADFORD I-I. DIVINE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Utica, in the county of Oneida and State of NewYork, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Coasters forBicycles, of which the following is a specification.

The type of coaster heretofore used is formed by doubling a strip ofmetal of the required shape around the upper portion of the respectivefork sides and tightening the coaster upon and around the fork side andat the same time drawing the two extremities together by means of ascrew-bolt which passes through the two parts for the purpose. Inasmuchas fork sides are never of uniform sectional dimensions throughout theirlength, but are tapering from the fork-crown downward, and as suchsectional dimensions also vary in different wheels it results not onlythat coasters of the above type cannot be standardized, so as to fit allfork sides whatever their relative differences in dimensions, but alsothat however closely the coaster is fitted to the fork side in a givencase nevertheless, by reason of the said downward taper of the part towhich it is applied, it is liable to slip and catch in the spokes, andthereby break the wheel and cause the overthrow of the rider.

My invention is designed to avoid the objections above referred to andto supply an economical form of coaster which may be applied withabsolute permanency to every form of wheel in use. I accomplish thisresult by the device and attachment hereinafter particularly described,and illustrated by the drawings which accompany and are made a part ofthis application.

In said drawings similar letters are used to designate similar parts.

Figure I shows in perspective the forkcrown of a wheel with my coasterattached thereto. Fig. II shows in like manner the coaster when detachedfrom the wheel.

In said figures, B is the coaster proper, which in the special formthere shown consists of a single bar or plate-like piece of metal havingits central portion slightly arched on the under side and of somewhatgreater vertical width than the extremities or arms b b.

The longitudinal Width of said central por- Serial No. 646,057. (Nomodel.)

tion of B should conform approximately to the longitudinal width of thefork-crown to which the coaster is to be applied. The extremities orarms I) b constitute the stirrups proper and may be of any length anddimensions desired. 0 O are inwardly-directed indentations along theupper edge of the said arms I) b and are preferably added to affordfriction to the feet.

D D are straps of pliable metal having holes or perforations in theextremities of suitable size to admit the screw-bolts d d. O C, Fig. II,are nuts upon said bolts (1 d. The length of the straps D D and thedistance between the said holes or perforations in the same should besuch as will enable the said straps to be snugly passed over thefork-crowm from one face of the plate-like piece 13 and brought aroundagainst the opposite face thereof with the holes in the said strapsregistering with each other and also with a hole in the plate B.

The hole in the plate B just referred to is not shown in the drawings,but is that through which the screw-bolts d d have necessarily passed assaid screw-bolts appear in the same.

In Fig. II the straps D D are represented in perspective as they wouldappear when conformed to the shape of a particular fork-crown and in theposition for being finally fastened around such fork-crown by screwingup the nuts 0 c. In the same figure, however, the dotted lines indicatethe general shape and character of one of the said straps before it hasbeen bent around said fork-crown for the purpose referred to.

A is the fork-crown of a familiar kind, but Whether the kind be thatshown in the drawings or any of the others employed in bicycles my formof coaster may be readily applied thereto by simply making the distancebetween the said holes in the extremities of the straps D D coincidewith the distance around the crown, as described, and fastening thepiece B to the crown by the straps in the manner already indicated. Inthe style known as the double crown, which is made up of two or moreseparate and parallel plates penetrated by and brazed on the fork sides,it will be found preferable to attach my coaster to the crown by passingthe straps D D around the lowermost of said plates. A A, Fig. I, are thefork sides.

I do not intend to limit my invention to the specific form of devicewhich I describe and claim in this application either with respect tothe details of construction or means of attaching the coaster to aWheel. Broadly speaking, any method of utilizing the forkcrown of abicycle as the point of support and fastening for a bar or yoke carryingright and left stirrups for coasters comes equally 1 Within the scope ofthe invention.

z 5 be applied transversely to the fork sides of a bicycle above theWheel, and, in said position, to extend beyond said fork sides, the saidbar or plate-like piece being provided with metallic straps adapted topass over or around the fork-crown of the bicycle for the purpose ofsecurely attaching said piece to the said fork-crown substantially asshown and described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of July,1897.

BRADFORD H. DIVINE.

In presence of W. H. DIVINE, GEO. IRELAND, Jr.

